The attacking stars have shared the previous seven editions of football’s top individual prize and both were named on the 23-man shortlist for the 2014 award in October.

Messi beat Ronaldo in the race to draw level with Raul’s all-time Champions League goalscoring record this week, but Ancelotti does not believe the Barcelona ace will beat either the Portugal captain or one of Germany’s World Cup-winning heroes to the trophy.

“Ronaldo has done everything to win it. Then there could be Germany players because they won the World Cup. I don’t see other players who can be on the list,” he told a press conference.